Heads or Pistons
Dr. Detroit
Joined: Mar 2012
Posts: 10,097
Likes: 4,027
From: New Braunfels Texas
They also take FOREVER to build a set of heads....months, you can’t sell a customer an engine one year and promise it the next, they will be on the phone every week screaming, wanting AFR’s phone number, etc.....
Being our on the west coast was the nail in the coffin for us in Michigan....especially when I could take a 20 minute drive to Dart.
Engine builders build engines to make money. There is no tougher business next to food service....the margins suck....so a builder will tend to lean to what is available as a quality product rather then flow numbers and whiz bang advertising....
Don't get me wrong.....AFR's CNC heads are some of the best around......the 265cc Big Block CNC head is unbelievable......but getting your hands on them is another story.
Jebby
Last edited by Jebbysan; Apr 7, 2021 at 07:23 AM.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Apr 2011
Posts: 6,284
Likes: 1,171
From: Hermosa
https://www.jegs.com/i/Fel+Pro/375/1...CABEgI4HfD_BwE
https://www.summitracing.com/parts/fel-1094
1094 still available. It cost’s $30 , so better? Maybe, it has the coating on it.
stock deck height of .025 with a composite gasket of .039 is gonna be terrible for quench.
as far as the ZZ or the L-98 I have no Idea. I know about what I’ve worked on and a little more but don’t branch out into engines I’m not going to be working on. If I ever tear into one then I’ll know.
https://www.summitracing.com/parts/fel-1094
1094 still available. It cost’s $30 , so better? Maybe, it has the coating on it.
stock deck height of .025 with a composite gasket of .039 is gonna be terrible for quench.
as far as the ZZ or the L-98 I have no Idea. I know about what I’ve worked on and a little more but don’t branch out into engines I’m not going to be working on. If I ever tear into one then I’ll know.
Last edited by REELAV8R; Apr 7, 2021 at 12:52 PM.
Racer
Joined: Mar 2021
Posts: 278
Likes: 43
From: Kansas
This is what I did with my iron eagles and what I was told would also be fine with aluminum heads. I also believe there are plenty of lower cost options for bolts and pushrods.. I paid about $40 for the +.100 length hardened pushrods 7 years ago and $45 shipped for the shorter howards pushrods for my retro roller cam just a few month ago.
After recently snapping an afr balancer bolt and drilling through it like butter with a harbor freight bit I'm not as convinced its much better than grade 8 hardware.
Its funny you mention "hobby lore" as my new favorite tv show has been Engine masters and they have disclaimed many internet myths ive read repeated multiple times. I mentioned recently in the radiator sticky about the comparision I recently saw between different radiator fans they did on the dyno to prove by demonstration how much of a difference it really makes and the first response here was someone claiming BS.. Bias is a funny thing. I myself was thrilled to learn I could free up as much as almost 30hp at higher rpms by just going to electric fans.
By the same token I wasnt so happy to learn how much potential hp I lost due to the dent I put in one of my header collectors to clear the steering box.. but I dont discredit it as BS either..
After recently snapping an afr balancer bolt and drilling through it like butter with a harbor freight bit I'm not as convinced its much better than grade 8 hardware.
Its funny you mention "hobby lore" as my new favorite tv show has been Engine masters and they have disclaimed many internet myths ive read repeated multiple times. I mentioned recently in the radiator sticky about the comparision I recently saw between different radiator fans they did on the dyno to prove by demonstration how much of a difference it really makes and the first response here was someone claiming BS.. Bias is a funny thing. I myself was thrilled to learn I could free up as much as almost 30hp at higher rpms by just going to electric fans.
By the same token I wasnt so happy to learn how much potential hp I lost due to the dent I put in one of my header collectors to clear the steering box.. but I dont discredit it as BS either..
Been watching the shows recently as well. Made me start to toy with dropping a roller cam and putting all the money in a set of heads and running a flat tappet hydraulic cam. For 20 hp difference on a roller vs flat tappet. for roughly $1200 savings between the 2, that gives me the budget for the AFR heads.
Le Mans Master
Joined: May 2007
Posts: 5,029
Likes: 1,120
From: North tonawanda NY
Been watching the shows recently as well. Made me start to toy with dropping a roller cam and putting all the money in a set of heads and running a flat tappet hydraulic cam. For 20 hp difference on a roller vs flat tappet. for roughly $1200 savings between the 2, that gives me the budget for the AFR heads.
This is the route I went for what my dyno software indicates could be more like 30 hp and piece of mind that I dont have to worry about zinc and wiped cam lobes. that said I had no problems with the voodoo flat tappet I installed 7 years ago that I just removed.
Racer
Joined: Mar 2021
Posts: 278
Likes: 43
From: Kansas
A good howards or comp or lunati retro roller cam can be had for about $300.. The retro roller lifter can be bought for an additional $140 for the complete set shipped from Rock auto. so with the new pushrods it cost me about $500 to swap.
This is the route I went for what my dyno software indicates could be more like 30 hp and piece of mind that I dont have to worry about zinc and wiped cam lobes. that said I had no problems with the voodoo flat tappet I installed 7 years ago that I just removed.
This is the route I went for what my dyno software indicates could be more like 30 hp and piece of mind that I dont have to worry about zinc and wiped cam lobes. that said I had no problems with the voodoo flat tappet I installed 7 years ago that I just removed.
My neighbor is a Amsoil dealer. and I keep Scaheffers around as well so the wiped cam lobe isn't that scary to me. Comp also has nitrided cams and I have seen with nitride does to metal and the abuse it will take. But I will keep that in mind, I may still end up a roller set up.
